The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1887-02-03
eABY WARDROBES.
How a Man Makes Purchases.

HOW n NJ an Makes IurCndeCes
The girls in the big uptown dry
goods establishments were temporarily
inactive, SAYS The NeU YORK. Times.
The stream of incoming customers
seemed to have run itself dry. Conse
quenty the maidens made themselves
up into little groups and talked in that
subdued tone of voice calculated to
make everyone anxious to learn the
subject of their conversation. AS they
talked very mild-looking young man
strollcd in leisurely manner into the
store and looked about him. He was
dressed in what is popularity called the
height of fashion, which summit usual
ly includes some carefully creased
trousers. some brickdust-colored gloves,
an admirably CLOSED beaver hat, and
some pointed leather boots. To say
that the young man looked embarrassed
is to express family the condition of his
countenance. He seemed. rs they put
it in Paris. like chicken that has found
a penknlfe and had no idea what to do
with it. First he gazed at the grouped
maidens, then his glance took in the
goods that hung in careless pendulosity
over the counters. Finally his difiidence
seemed to get the better of him, and lie
turned himself streetward.
Il know what he wants, poor young
man." said the foremost of the mai
dens, pretty brunette, heaving sigh
and supplementing it with laugh.
I'D help him if l could, Girls. stop
laughing. He'll think you're making
fun of him. Men always do when
they're in any doubt"
"I-I-d-don't know whether II
am a-at the r-right counter, II N
sure" he stammered. The f-fact is
I'm n-not used to sh-shopping. My
w-wfe g-generally does it-er-
II knew it, whispered one of the
girls to her neighbor, rather audibly.
He has wife. He looks it. I SYM
pathize.''
I'm fact" resumed the unfortunate
young man, casting about for assist
ance and finding none. ''w-when she
asked me to buy it for her refused.
1t m-makes a f-fcllow Hook so d-deuc-
edlv stupid, don't yer know
Not at ALL said the brunette. with
her most touching smile. Il assure
you that you make mistake. We
don't mind what you buy, and I'm sure
the proprietors of the store don't, as
long as you pay for it. As you were
saying, however,
Il hardly like to ask for it," said the
young man; ''it's such a fearful thing
to express. assure YOU l walked up
and down the street, outside the store.
trying to pluck up courage to enter. l
didn't find much courage. but entered
all the same. What lot of girls to
wait on one mani The young fellow
sighed as he made this remark. Then
he stopped down and said in low tone
to the pretty brunette: IL want to
b-buy b-bustle.
1t was too much for human nature
and feminine human nature at that.
The girls laughed quietly, rippingly.
but Enthusiastically. There was not a
straight face at the counter except that
belonging to the young man, which was
sufused with carmine tints and dis
tresS.
'W-what k-kind will you have?' ask
ed the pretty brunette. her lips culver
ing with emotion, assuredly ill-sup-
pressed. We have these small ones at
40 cents. They wear very we'll. most
adaptable. comfortable, and effective,
sir"
Don't" said the young man pathet-
ically. Il don't want it. that is TO say.
l need one of those long bustles that go
half way down the back of the dress.
IL don't know what you call them. but
they look like b-bird cage
PRECISELY said the pretty brunette.
'precisely." Then she brought vast
collection of the articles. placed them
on the counter and waited patiently uu-
til the miserable young man had made
his selection. Then she sent the pur-
chase away to be wrapped n paper.
and tried to engross the customer in
casual conversation about the weather
and other absorbing topics. She was
totally unsuccessful. The young man
walked about twenty yards from the
counter and stood there in painful med
itation until the goods were ready for
him to carry away Then without a
word of parting. he walked straight to
the door. opened it with trembling fin
gers. shut it behind him with consider
able dexterity, and ran across the street
like one possessed-of q hustle.
was an eye witness and an ear wit
ness to this scene, at some little dis
lance confess. l was sorry for the
young man, but utterly unable to re-
sist joining in the mirth of the maidcns
which lasted for five minutes. After
the pretty brunette's merriment had ex-
hausted she became communicative aud
talked with much volubility. II know
l ought not to laugh at such a scene as
that, she said, because it is such a
common occurrence that | ought to
have become accustomed to it by this
time. Unfortunately. however. can
not smother my sense of the ridiculous.
1t comes upon me at the most embar-
RAISING times. when would give all
possess that's not much, however.-to
be able to keep decently elongated
countenance. sit is most remarka-
BILE thing she went on seriously. "that
women don't mind in the least. allowing
their husbands to purchase goods
for them the demand of which must
inevitably embarrass the poor men. l
always try to help them out-that is.
when l am not too much consumed BY
l,nob%ar 1vn11 t;,,1o D.